Back to the basics. Our team will help you get started stamping. Learn basic measurements, how to cut your card stock, techniques, and enjoy a weekly sketch challenge, and more! Please note: You have entered a MARKETING FREE ZONE.
Please note, we reserve the right to remove links with non-Stampin' Up! product, "sales pitches", links to online stores, or requests to join your team. We're here to have fun, learn from one another and share.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Hello everyone and welcome to a new Saturday Sketch Challenge from the Stamping 411 Operators!

This week's sketch may look a little more complicated than usual but it's really not ... you just need to break it down into pieces and you'll see how easy it is. We hope you'll try your hand at it this week.

I'm going to give you measurements for my (flower) card below, but I suggest you visit the individual operator blogs if you are looking for more info about their cards.

Layer One -- Peach Parfait Cardstock cut at 5.5 x 8.5", scored and folded to form a card base.

Layer Two -- Poppy Parade Cardstock cut at 4 x 5.25". Run through the Big Shot with the Impressions Folder to emboss.

Layer Three (DSP strips) -- cut at 3/4 x 4". Use your Grid Paper to space the strips evenly on the card.

Layer Four -- Lattice Die Cut made of Whisper White Cardstock.

Layer Five -- flowers and swirly leaves and stems

Layer Six -- Sentiment stamped on Whisper White Cardstock and punched out with the Decorative Label Punch.

Layer Seven -- Inside of Card -- whisper White cardstock cut at 4 x 5.25". I placed another flower and swirl on the inside to dress the card up a bit!

Does the thought of cutting your card stock using measurements baffle you? Well, you can check out the most awesome post on how to read a ruler written by the very lovely and talented Lee Conrey, by clicking here.

As with EVERY week, our sketches are just a starting point for your creativity. if you need to change it out, do so! Let your imagination do the rest!

Now, I know you've been anxiously waiting. Here are your operator cards for this week....

Friday, October 29, 2010

WOW is all we can say ... your creations get more amazing each week. We couldn't even choose 5 for this week -- we had to extend it to six. Here are your Operators Picks for Sketch Challenge #174. Way to go, stampers!

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Here's another fun technique that I love, of course I would love it, it includes glitter!! You might want to save those dryer sheets and give this project a try! Yes I use the dryer sheets that have already been used, they're nice & soft, I just iron them.

A few simple steps and you'll be on your way to a sparkly card with a cool texture too!

Stamp your image in classic ink of your choice on Whisper White card stock. For this leaf, I used Cajun Craze...I stamped it off to make the center lighter, then rocked the edges in the Cajun Craze stamp pad to darken the edges.

Cover the entire image with Versamark:

Coat the image in Heat & Stick powder:

Melt the Heat & Stick powder using your Heat Tool. Be sure and hold your image with tweezers because it gets extremely hot as the Heat & Stick powder is melting!

Place a dryer sheet over the image, pressing the dryer sheet onto the melted Heat & Stick powder.

Cut away most of the dryer sheet, leaving about 1/2" border all around:

Cut the corners so that when you fold over the edges they don't bunch up.

Flip it over and adhere the overlapping part to the back using snail.

After adhering the back down, coat your dryer sheet covered image in Dazzling Diamonds glitter...you can sprinkle on lots, then rub it around and shake off the excess to make sure the glitter really sticks through the dryer sheet to the melted Heat & Stick powder.

When you're finished, it will look like this...just add to your card!

Here's the finished card:I wish you could see just how sparkly this is in real life!! This view may give you a little better idea:

Here's another sample using this technique:In case you can't see how sparkly it is in real life:

I hope you'll give this fun technique a try! If you do, be sure and link your creations below!!

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Hello stampers! It's the end of the month and time for another installment of Clean and Simple Stamping. This month, I decided to focus on creating fabulous One-Layer cards and well, I was having so much fun, I got a little carried away!

At first you wouldn't think that a One-Layer card could have much personality - after all, it is just ONE layer - but with a little creative use of your stamps, inks and occasionally markers, you really can make gorgeous FLAT cards!

This first card begins simply with a piece of Naturals Ivory cardstock and a matching Medium Envelope. I cut the cardstock at 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" and folded it in half to make a standard A2 size card (4 1/4" x 5 1/2").

Using my French Foliage stamp set and four colors of ink pads - Old Olive, Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake and More Mustard - I inked the stamps and added the impressions collage style to the lower right corner of the folded card. The large leaf was stamped using the Rock-n-Roll technique by first inking it with More Mustard, then rolling the edges in Cajun Craze - I just LOVE that look, especially with these colors. The greeting, from the Because I Care stamp set, was inked with Old Olive and added to the left of the leaf collage.To add the 'idea' of a layer, without really adding one, I simply took the fine point of my Soft Suede Stampin' Write Marker and drew lines freestyle around the edges of the card front.After adding some leaf images to the envelope and inside of the card it was done and honestly, in less than 5 minutes! Now who doesn't love that?!

So, since I had SO much time left, I decided to pull out my pre-scored Note Cards with Envelopes and make a seasonal set of cards using this same design idea.These Note Cards are a bit smaller folded (3 1/2" x 5") but make wonderful Thank You's or Gift Enclosures. And yes, you can mail them!I did the first one using the same fall stamps and colors:

The next is for Winter and uses the Serene Snowflakes stamp set with Bashful Blue, Marina Mist and Night of Navy. This would be lovely with a bit of Vanilla Smooch Spray too!

Then I moved on to Valentine's Day and pulled out the I {heart} Hearts stamp set along with Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink and Rose Red - too cute!

Then I reached for Fifth Avenue Floral and did a Spring/Summer card with Pear Pizazz, Concord Crush and Daffodil Delight. I love how crisp this looks!

Ok, now I've been stamping for about 20 minutes - mainly because I took time to clean and put away my supplies between each card and I thought, well, I have a bit more time here so let's try one more thing - a One-Layer Debossed Panel card.

This was sooo easy I almost feel silly telling you how to do it! First I cut a piece of cardboard backing from a package of Designer paper at 3" x 4 1/2". Then, using a bit of Dotto (removable adhesive) I attached it to the middle of a folded Note Card and flipped it over. I then took my stylus and rubbed all around the cardboard edge on the opposite side of the cardstock, causing a raised frame to appear on the side of the cardstock that the cardboard was adhered to.Once I finished, I removed the cardboard and removed the Dotto residue with my Adhesive Eraser. Then, I stamped my images - super easy!Here, take a look:

I couldn't resist adding a little bling to this one so it has some Dazzling Diamonds on the flower and a couple of Rhinestone Jewels accenting the greeting.

So there you have it, more Clean and Simple that's quick and easy but still has impact.I hope you'll take some time this week to try out a Clean and Simple card - it's very freeing for your creativity and your time limits too! Please share your creations with us by leaving a link in your comments - we love seeing your artwork!

Does the thought of cutting your card stock using measurements baffle you? Well, you can check out the most awesome post on how to read a ruler written by the very lovely and talented Lee Conrey, by clicking here.

As with EVERY week, if you need to change it up, do so! You just want to use this sketch as a jumping off point for your design then let your imagination do the rest!

Layer #2 is Whisper White. It's been stamped with various stamps from Extreme Elements using Pumpkin Pie, Melon Mambo and Pacific Point ink. The edges are sponged with Pumpkin Pie ink. This layer is matted on some Basic Black cardstock.

Layer #3 is Pumpkin Pie cardstock that has been stamped with Extreme Guitar using Basic Black Craft ink. I sprinkled on some Black embossing powder and heated it 'til melted. I also sponged this layer with Pumpkin Pie ink. This layer is matted with some Basic Black cardstock. A few rhinestones in the upper left and lower right corners add some rockin' bling!

At the bottom of the card I added a strip of Melon Mambo cardstock. I stamped the sentiment (from All Holidays) using Basic Black ink.

All that's left is the 1/8" Basic Black Taffeta ribbon covering the top seam of the Melon Mambo layer.

When I finished my card, I handed it over to Dennis. He LOVED it!!! I'm not so sure he thought I could pull that color combo off! It is a doozie!!!!

Well, my friends, I challenge YOU to play with Pacific Point, Melon Mambo and Pumpkin Pie. Make sure to link your project to this post using the Linky Tool at the bottom!!!!